Inflation’s been brutal, but some stuff is surprisingly cheaper now. Here’s what actually dropped:
Smartphones - Down from $318 (2021) → $287 (2024). Better factories + refurb market = better deals on flagships.
TVs - 32-inch sets under $100 now. TCL/Hisense competition + smarter manufacturing did that.
Solar panels - Wild one: $5/watt (2000) → $0.25/watt (2023). Tech + gov support made solar the cheapest energy source in many places.
Used cars - Chip shortage premiums finally cooling as supply catches up.
Smart home gear - Alexa/Nest getting cheaper as makers scale production.
Sporting equipment - Competition + supply chain fixes = good time to buy workout gear.
Cell plans - Carriers finally competing hard. Unlimited data plans way cheaper than 5 years ago.
EVs - Battery tech + mass production scaling down prices. Tesla/Nissan/Chevy fighting it out.
The catch? Some of these won’t stay cheap forever. Enjoy it while it lasts.
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Price Drops That Actually Caught Me Off Guard
Inflation’s been brutal, but some stuff is surprisingly cheaper now. Here’s what actually dropped:
Smartphones - Down from $318 (2021) → $287 (2024). Better factories + refurb market = better deals on flagships.
TVs - 32-inch sets under $100 now. TCL/Hisense competition + smarter manufacturing did that.
Solar panels - Wild one: $5/watt (2000) → $0.25/watt (2023). Tech + gov support made solar the cheapest energy source in many places.
Used cars - Chip shortage premiums finally cooling as supply catches up.
Smart home gear - Alexa/Nest getting cheaper as makers scale production.
Sporting equipment - Competition + supply chain fixes = good time to buy workout gear.
Cell plans - Carriers finally competing hard. Unlimited data plans way cheaper than 5 years ago.
EVs - Battery tech + mass production scaling down prices. Tesla/Nissan/Chevy fighting it out.
The catch? Some of these won’t stay cheap forever. Enjoy it while it lasts.